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REAL SCOUT LIFE 



A PLAY IN TWO ACTS 



For THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA 




'REAL SCOUT LIFE" 

A PLAY IN TWO ACTS 
By Susan B. Davis 



DEDICATED 

TO 

VICTOR AND ARTHUR WERNER 




WITH FULL DIRECTIONS FOR STAGING AND PLAYING 
PRICE 25 CENTS 



COPYRIGHTED T912 
BY 

SUSAN B. DAVIS 



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o. $ 



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CCLA314281 



DIRECTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 



R. and L. — Right and left of actor as he faces the 
audience. 

C. — Center of stage. 

Local names, events and scenes should be substituted 
as far as possible for those used in this edition. All 
the dialog may be given by a few if so desired. The 
stories should be assigned to the boys best able to tell 
them well. 

The march, dumb-bell and flag drills are given in 
deta 1 '! in the back of the book. 





DIAGRAMS 




A\3 


a 


/ ' 


A 


ACT I 


ACT II, 


SCENE 1 


1, 2, 3 -- Table and Chairs. 


1 - 


- Fire. 


4 -- Punching 


Bag. 


2 - 


- Table. 


5 — Bars. 




3 -- 


■ Tent. 






4 - 


Bench. 



Costumes — Regulation Scout uniforms. 

Properties — A punching bag, parallel bars, or some 
sort of apparatus for exercising, various appropriate 
articles and furnishings for "barracks," specimen case, 
etc., camp supplies and utensils, one tent, other articles 
ad libitum. 

The action should all be given with snap and energy, 
and the dialog with enthusiasm and good nature. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS. 



JAMES or ''BOOTS" — Patrol leader. 
BUGS — Of a scientific turn of mind. 
BILL — The smallest Scout who generally "seconds 
the motion.'' 
RED — 
SPIKE — 
GEORGE — 
ARTHUR — 
TEN-PENNY — 
JERRY — 
FAT — 
FRITZ- 
SPECKS — 
CHALMERS- 
HENRY — 
CURTIS — 
JOHN- 



SYNOPSIS OF SCENES. 



ACT I. 
Scene I — Barracks of Troop No. 1. 

ACT II. 
Scene I — In camp, afternoon and evening. 
Scene II — The same, morning one week later. 



Time for acting — One hour and thirty minutes. 



REAL SCOUT LIFE 



ACT I. 

{THE BARRACKS— As the scene opens Red, Svike and 
George are at punching bag, Arthur, Ten-penny, Jerry, Fat 
and Fritz are exercising on the bars, Specks and Chalmers 
are reading. Numerous interesting articles are scattered 
around the room.) 

GEARGE — Where's Eocts, he promised to be here 
early to tell as what Lieu. Roberts decides about our 
expedition. 

CHALMERS — I saw him and Bugs going toward the 
creek as I came over. 

FRITZ — Probably out after more specimenc. Did you 
ever see such a fellow for SPECIMENS as old Bugs is, 
anyway ? 

{Enter James or "Boots".) 

SEVERAL — Hello, Boots, Where's Bugs? 

BOOTS — I left him making a cross section of a para- 
sitized colony of colonial caterDillars, or something of 
the sort. 

SPECKS — on, Boots, you would better take a few 
science lessons of Bugs yourself. 

ARTHUR — Well, what did Lieu. Roberts say about 
the trip? 

BOOTS — We're going if the weather settles down. 

TEN-PENNY — It's going to be bright and sunny be- 
fore noon, there was quite a fog this morning. 

SPECKS — "Rain before seven, clear before eleven." 

JERRY — The wind has switched around to the west, 
it will be clear and cool tonight and tomorrow will be 
O. K. 



6 REAL SCOUT LIFE 

BOOTS — Say, if you weather prognosticators will de- 
sist for a few 'minutes we may be able to get something 
done. 

FAT — We'll have to clear up this place before we 
can pack. 

{All start to work. Much fun can be furnished by the 
manner in which the boys ' 'clear up" .) 

{Enter Henry, Curtis, fohn, and Bill.) 

BOOTS — Hello, fellows, get ahold here and help 
straighten things up a little. 

{Henry, Curtis, John and Bill hinder about as much as 
they help by scattering the things which they have brought 
around the room.) 

HENRY — Are we going on the trip? 

SEVERAL — Sure. 

CURTIS — Where is the camp to be? 

BOOTS — D^wn in the timber near the spring on Si 
Simonson's place. 

GEORGE — And we're going to stay a week, and it's 
not far from the lake and the swimming hole — 

SPIKE — And we can fish and shoot and— — 

BOOTS — "Be prepared." 

ALL — Zing-a-zing! 
— Bom! Bom! 

BILL^— Oh, it will be great! 

RED — The Scout's life is the life for boys, all right. 

SPECKS — That makes me think. Have you fellows 
read that new symphony that was in the last "Courier?" 

SEVERAL — No. 

BOOTS — Read it, Specks. 

SPECKS— (Reads.) 

To live, as much as possible, out-of-doors, — under the. 
broad expanse of heaven, near to Mother Earth. 

To study the stars, the elements and all things in 
nature, — the birds of the air, the beasts of the fields, 
and the creatures that teem the waters. 

To be glad to give aid to the injured, .be it man or 
animal. 



REAL SCOUT LIFE 7 

To regard all beings as brothers. 

To be courteous, to be gentle, to be kind. 

To be ready at all times to perform duty cheerfully, 
be it for the home, the school, the church, the state or 
the nation. 

To believe that the best service ever comes in the 
lines of peace and not those of strife. 

To cultivate the highest ideals of manhood and citi- 
zenship — THIS IS THE SCOUT'S SYMPHONY. 

EOOTS— That's fine. 

CHALMERS — We fellows ought to appreciate what 
it means to belong to an organization that stands for 
things of that kind. 

RED — It will suit old Bugs. 

BILL- — That's a sure thing. 

{By this time "things" have been "straightened up".) 

GEORGE — Where IS BUGS anyway? If he were 
here we could run thru our new marching drill and 
have that off our hands for the day. 

TEN-PENNY — Let's go thru it anyway, we can get 
along without Bugs. 

CURTIS — He will probably show up before we finish. 

BOOTS — Pall in! 

'( The line is formed and all is ready for the march when 
Bugs comes rushing in with his specimen case and a fine 
"specimen" of a butter-fly which he tries to show them. Some 
of the boys take an interest in what he has and the line is com- 
pletely broken up. One or two of the boys finally take the thing 
away from Bugs, and Boots once more gives the order "Fall- 
in".) 

The Scout Military March is given. 

BOOTS — Come on, let's get our commissary depart- 
ment organized and finish our plans for the trip. 

GEORGE — All right Boots, go ahead. 

BOOTS — Attention, Scouts! What shall be the order 
of the day? 

ARTHUR — Mr. Chairman, I move that we proceed to 
an informal discussion of the plans of our expedition. 



8 REAL SCOUT LIFE 

BILLr— I second the motion. 

(The motion is "put".) 

FAT — I don't think that much discussion is neces- 
sary. There is just about one thing to be said, and that 
is have PLENTY OF PIE! 

ALL IN CHORUS — PIE! 

FAT — Well, have enough of other things too. 

SPIKE — Fat, I should think that you would get poor 
carrying around all the pie that you eat. 

SPECKS — You're as far gone over pie as Bugs is 
over bugs. 

FAT — (Putting his arms around Bugs' neck.) They 
don't need to worry about us, do they, old Bugs? 
With plenty of pie 
The world we defy, 

(Bugs and Fat go thru several sparring movements, 
finally rolling over on the floor where they sit thru the rest of 
the dialog.) 

FRITZ — I think that if he will promise to get some 
REAL things to eat that Fat will be a good chairman 
of the Food Supplies and Cooking Utensils Committee, 
and I move that we make him chairman, and he can 
choose four other fellows to help. 

BILL — I second the motion. 

( The motion is carried.) 

BOOTS — Well, that settles the most important com- 
mittee, now for the chairman of the Grounds and Gen- 
eral Sanitation Committee. 

HENRY — Spike and Ten-penny have been with their 
father in the big hunting camps in Wisconsin, and they 
know all about laying out camps. 

JOHN — I move that they have the camp in charge 
with six scouts to help. 

BILL — I second the motion. 

JERRY — Got a mortgage on the "seconding" propo- 
sition, Bill? 

( The motion is carried.) 
BOOTS — Now the Tents and General Camp Utensils 



REAL SCOUT LIFE 9 

Committee. 

GEORGE — I move that Boots be chairman of this 
committee and that all the rest of us who are not other- 
wise engaged help him. 

BILL — Again I sec — 

JERRY — Sit down, Bill. I second the motion. 
( The motion is put by George and carried. ) 

BOOTS — I guess the committees are all right. Now 
you fellows do your THINKING first and your ACTING 
second, and let's have one of the best organized Scout 
Camps that ever existed. We'll have more fun if we d^ 
things right. 

BILL — All right, "Father Boots." 

(Boots makes a lunge after him but Bill slips away. ) 
BOOTS- — (Looking at the tim?.) Just time enough 

left to practice one drill and then we must get busy. The 

Scout Anvil Chorus Dumb-bell Drill, boys. 

The Scout Anvil Chorus Dumb-bell Drill is given. 
Curtain. 



ACT II — SCENE I. 



(THE CAMP — Everybody at work. The "committees" 
are prominent. Some boys are pitching a tent L. comer, up 
stage; some are arranging general camp articles. Fat and his 
helpers are making the fire and getting supper. Dishes are all 
on one small table. Fire can be managed by placing regular 
camp-fire sticks and supplying "fire" by red electric lights or a 
red lantern when all is ready. Some of the boys are talking 
to each other, some are whistling, and some are singing. 
There should not be too much noise, but a general air of in- 
dustry and contentment. Coffee, "wienies" and buns are 
sufficient for the supper. ) 



10 REAL SCOUT LIFE 

CHALMERS — I'm as hungry as a wild Indian, and if 
supper isn't ready in five minutes I'm going to tomahawk 
the whole bunch of cooks. 

RED — The smell of that coffee and those "wienies" 
certainly dees 'make a fellow's eyes water. 

HENRY — A person would think that you were talk- 
ing about onions, Red. 

RED — EXCUSE ME, mouth water, I meant to say. 

FAT — We're ready any time you fellows are. 

( All immediately drop their work which is about finished. 
Each one goes to the table and gets a knife, fork, spoon, tin 
cup and paper plate. All gather around the fire and are 
"helped" — then they scatter and sit in groups around the 
fire. Impromptu conversation, and all "eat".) 

{Lights should be dimmed a little.) 

SPECKS — Where's Bugs? 

FRITZ — That's so, what has become of him? He 
hasn't been in camp yet. 

JERRY — He went back after his new microscope. 
He's probably somewhere in the woods now sitting on a 
stump examining a mummified grasshopper and has 
forgotten all about our camp. 

FAT — You wouldn't catch me going without my sup- 
per for anythmg "mummified," either in this country or 
old Egypt. 

JERRY — No, not you. 

{Whistle is heard.) 
FAT — There he comes now. 

( Troup "call" is given outside. ) 
{Answer inside.) 
{Enter Bugs. ) 

BUGS — You fellows should have been with me. I've 
found one of the finest "Social Bee Hives" I ever saw. 



REAL SCOUT LIFE 11 

Just look here! {Shows ir to some of the boys.) 

SPIKE — Just YOU look here, and eat your supper. 
Fat and his aides want to get the dishes washed some 
time tonight. {Taking him by the collar to the table 

and then to a seat by the fire. ) 

GEORGE — I never ate any supper that tasted better 
than this does. I think Fat deserves three cheers. 

BILL— {With a big sigh.) I feel about like Billie 
Wiggs did after his theatre supper. 

SPECKS — Now, Boots, tell us a rattling good story. 

BOOTS — I'm not a story-teller. 

FRITZ — Sure you are. Tell us something about the 
time you were up in the Adirondacks. 

BOOTS — Did I ever tell you how father and I spent 
cne night in open camp? 

SEVERAL — No! 

BILL — Tell it, Eootsey. 

{Red ligh's.) 

BOOTS — Father and I had been staying with Uncle 
Tom at Big Moose Lake hunting and fishing. Father 
had promised me that we should spend one night in an 
open camp about two and a half miles from our hotel, 
and then we felt sure that we would be able to see some 
deer. One day late in the afternoon, we rowed half a 
mile up the lake, beached our canoe and with our packs 
on our shoulders started for our two mile walk over 
the trail to camp. You know how an open camp is 
made, don't you? 

SEVERAL:— No. 

EOOTS — It's built a good deal like a "lean-to," only 
it hasn't anything to lean to. The "lean-to" side is 
open, the roof is very slanting, around the inside are 
hung the cooking utensils and the floor is covered thick- 
ly with balsam boughs, and you never saw such a fine 
place to sleep. 

SPIKE — Let's make one tomorrow. 

BOOTS — Built out in front is a large hearth or open 
fire-place, usually rather high for convenience in cook- 



12 REAL SCOUT LIFE 

ing. 

As soon as father and I reached camp, we made a fire 
and had our supper. Then we rested and talked until 
late in the evening we changed our shoes for moccasins 
and took the trail again down toward Constable Pond 
where we hoped the deer might be. It was pitch dark, 
but by flashing our electric pocket-lamps we managed 
to keep the trail. We knew that the moon would be up 
later in the evening. We didn't talk and tried to walk 
as noiselessly as possible. When we were within twenty 
or thirty rods of the pond, we got down on all fours and 
crawled along. My heart began to beat so loud, it 
seemed as if it could be heard a mile. At last we came 
to the edge of the woods where we lay flat under some 
bushes. We laid still so long that I was afraid that I 
could never move my legs again, and once I nearly died 
I wanted to sneeze so bad, and I guess I was getting a 
little sleepy when father gave me a poke and whisper- 
ed, listen! I pricked up my ears and listened until it 
seemed as if my ear drums would burst and I thought 
that father had only imagined that he had heard some- 
thing, when I heard a little crackling noise and then 
what sounded like something pushing thru the bushes 
on the other side of the little pond. I looked with all 
my eyes and in just a minute the moon brofte thru the 
trees and I saw a splendid big buck come out from the 
timber not two hundred feet away. I nearly yelled and 
father gave me another poke. The buck seemed to be 
waiting for something and pretty quick here came the 
daintiest, hancsomest little dee. They looked so beau- 
tiful as they stood there together snuffing the air that 
I wondered how a person could shoot a deer anyway. 
After a minute they came down to the water and began 
to drink. I was so excited that I could scarcely breath, 
and I was just thinking how lucky we were to have such" 
a fine chance to watch them, when that sneeze that T 
had forgotten all about, went off like a toy canon. I 
heard father say something under his breath, then I 
heard a strange pounding or stomping sound and away 
went the deer. (All the boys laugh heartily.) I felt 



REAL SCOUT LIFE 13 

pretty mean, I tell you, to spoil the whole thing that 
way. Father said that there wasn't much use to wait for 
any more as the buck had stomped to warn others, so 
we hurried back to camp. It didn't take us long to get 
to bed and I guess it didn't take us long to go to sleep, 
but I don't believe we had been asleep a great while 
when I woke up suddenly and as sure as I'm alive 
something was walking on the roof. I didn't want to 
wake father, so I kept quiet and listened. Queer what 
an awful lot of sounds a fellow will hear in the woods 
at night! I had just begun to think that my imagina- 
tion must have been at work when I heard a dull thud. 
It sounded in the direction of the fire-place, so I raised 
up a little and looked out there. The next instant I 
yelled loud enough to raise the dead for I saw two great 
green eyes as big as saucers glaring at me, and the 
minute I yelled the thing leaped right at 'me and landed 
on my feet. I yelled again louder that before and then 
I laid nearly paralized I was so scared. Father switch- 
ed on his light and asked me what in the world was the 
matter. My teeth chattered so I could scarcely speak, 
but I managed to sav "th-at-t a p-p-p-an-ther ha-d 
j-jmp-ed at-t m-m-me." Father made a grab for his 
gun and then we hgth listened a minute and heard — 
the most comfortable, contented purring. Father turned 
his lamp around and there curled up on my feet was a 
fine old tabby-cat. It had probably strayed in from one 
of the farm houses a mile or so away. 

(Boys all laugh and exclamations of "That's fire!" 
"Takes Boots to tell a story" etc., are heard.) 

( Then one scout should lead off with a good anecdote, 
beginning by saying, "that reminds me" . This should be fol- 
lowed py four or five more. Good outing, hunting, fishing or 
trapping stories are the best. After the stones the dialog 
continues.) 

{Lights change to green.) 
SPECKS — How blight the stars are to-night. Tel U]ce 



14 REAL SCOUT LIFE 

to live out-of-doors always, where you can see things. 
How many constellations do you fellows knew? 

JERRY — I don't know any. I never could under 
stand how people see chairs and bears and hares and 
horns and dippers and things in the stars. 

GEORGE — The Great Bear and the Big Dipper are 
the same thing, at least the seven big stars in the Grea + 
Bear or the seven stars of the Dipper. How do you ex- 
pect to keep track of the North Star if you don't know 
the Dipper, Jerry? 

JERRY — I don't expect to keep track of it. 

CHALMERS — It's easy. The last two stars on the side 
away from the tail of the Great Bear point right straight 
at the North or Pole Star, and the Pole Star is the last 
star in the tail of the Little Bear. 

JERRY — That just shows how much you fellows 
know about it. Bears don't have tails. 

{All the boys laugh.) 

JOHN — Of course not, but can't you imagine a little 
something? 

JERRY — I think this star business is all imagination. 

CURTIS — I think it is mighty interesting. I like to 
study out the figures. There's the Twins, The Dog, and 
the Little Dog, and The Bull, and — 

SPIKE — Orion is my favorite. He's such a big old 
giant. The three stars in his belt are like great jewels. 

TEN-PENNY — I like the Pleides, they are so brilliant 
and twinkle so. 

BILL — The North Star is the best. I think it ought 
to be called "Old Faithful." It is always there, and 
means more to sailors and woods-people than any other, 
I think it ought to be the Scout Star. 

BOOTS — I guess you are right, Bill. We'll have it. 
for ours any way. We must have a few minutes signal 
drill and then it will be time to "turn in." 

{Semaphore drill with flags or lights. The latter are 
more effective if all the stage lights can be turned out and the 
boys use red lights for the drill.) 



REAL SCOUT LIFE 15 

{Following the drill the boys "turn in" with character- 
istic goodnight s, and TAPS ARE SOUNDED.) 
Curtain. 



ACT II — SCENE II. 

FULL LIGHTS 
{Camp is in order- the boys are finishing packing uten- 
sils, etc.) 

RED — I tell you what, fellows, I wish this was the 
beginning instead of the end of our week. 

JERRY — So do I. I never had such a good time be- 
fore in my life. 

ARTHUR — And we've learned many new things 
about scouting too. I think it's great. , 

BUGS — My specimen case is full to the cover. I never 
found so many interesting "eumenes fraterna," "orgyia 
leucostigma," "cecropia moth caterpillars," and heaps of 
other things. Now just look at this — 

RED — If we don't have bugs on the brain when we 
°ret home it won't be your fault. We've had "skippers" 
in the coffee, caterpillars in the stew-pans, and bees in 
our blankets. We won't forget your part of the trip 
v ery soon. 

BUGS — Well, who got the turtles for soup, the fish 
for supper, and the squirrels and rabbits for dinner, 
every once in a while? 

ARTHUR — That's right. Bugs has helped Pat out 
with many a fine dish. I'm for Bugs every time. 

GEORGE— And so am I. 

SPIKE— And so am I. 

BILL — And so am I. 

BOOTS — When we get back to the barracks, Bugs is 
going to have a corner in one of the rooms and have all 
the specimens that he has collected on this trip mounted 
and on exhibition. 

CHALMERS — That's fine. And each one of us when 
we get a really good specimen can bring it, and first 
thing you know we will have a good little museum. 



16 REAL SCOUT LIFE 

BOOTS — Already, fellows, for our morning drill. 

{FIRST AID TO THE INJURED EXHIBITION. 
First— Different kinds of bandaging and tying for cuts. 
Second— Resuscitation. 

The time taken for these exercises may be ad libitum. ) 

EOOTS — {Stepping to the front and addressing the 

audience.) The Boy Scouts of wish 

to thank you heartily for your appreciation of our pic- 
tures of "REAL SCOUT LIFE," and we hope that you 
have enjoyed them as much as we have. Boy Scouts 
are to be found today in practically every country in the 
world. In honor of Ernest Thompson Seton arid Leiu. 
Gen. Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founders and pro- 
moters of the Boy Scout movement, we are going to give 
as a conclusion to our play, a flag drill in which fifteen 
nations besides our own will be represented. 

The Scout Flag Drill is given. 

Curtain. 



DRILLS. 



THE SCOUT MARCH. 



(To be given with hats on.) 

1. From center of back forward single file to cen- 
ter of front. 

2. R. and L. to opposite corners, down sides meet- 
ing partners at center of back. 

3. Forward by twos to center of front. 

4. R. and L. by twos. 

5. To corners, then to middle of sides. 

6. By twos from one side straight across to op- 
posite side, couples dividing and passing thru. 

7. Mark time until straight lines are complete, then 
single file to back corners and to center of back. 

8. Forward by original couples to front. 

9. Mark time, lines face opposite direction, forward 
march to sides, about face, mark time. 

10. Lines forward march to center and back to place. 



REAL SCOUT LIFE 17 

11. Number by fours, fours wheel, alternating pi- 
vots. 

12. Lines forward march to center, rear face. 

13. Forward march. 

14. First four of each line across back, down sides 
to front corners, second four cf each line to back cor- 
ners, mark time. 

15. Forward march from corners to center. 

16. Mark time, right face. 

17. Whole figure wheel once around. 

18. About face, whole figure wheel. 

19. Four ends about face. 

20. Whole figure wheel # {The four ends will be march- 
ing in opposite direction from the others.) 

ing in opposite direction from the others). 

21. Mark time, face corners. 
2 2. Forward to corners. 

2 3. Second fours to center of back, mark time. 

2 4. First fours down sides to join line. 

25. Forward march by partners down center to front. 

2 6. To the right march, single file. 

27. Form circle. 

2 8. Gradually march in until the circle gets as small 
as possible, then each boy sits on the knees of the boy 
back of him # {The circle must be absolutely tight to do 
this successfully.) Hats are taken off with the inside 
hand and held high in toward the center and are "bal- 
anced" by the opposite hand held low, palm out. Hold 
this position eight counts. 

29. Stand and gradually widen the circle to original 
size. 

30. March once around single file, then to back of 
stage. 



SCOUT ANVIL CHORUS DUMB-BELL DRILL. 



( To be given with hats off. ) 
{MUSIC — "God of the Nations" from "II Trovaiore n 



18 REAL SCOUT LIFE 

Slow time. Repeat the first eight measures before the last 
part is played. Make the first note of the ninth measure a 
half note to fill out the first measure of the repeat.) 

Position— Bells on hips. 

1. Counts 3-4, bells down to side. 
Counts 1-2, bells on chest. 
Counts 3-4, bells down to side. 
Counts 1-2, bells behind back. 
Counts 3-4, bells down. 
Counts 1-2, bells on shoulders. 
Counts 3-4, bells down. 
Counts 1-2, bells on hips. 

2. Repeat except last two counts. On four bring 
bells to hips. 

3. Counts 1-2, charge to R. oblique. 
Counts 3-4, rear face. 

Counts 1-2, charge R. foot back. 
Counts 3-4, front face. 

4. Eight counts, same to L., bells still on hips. 

5. Counts 1-2, cross R. foot over L«. 
Counts 3-4, rear face, pivot on toes. 

6. Repeat to front face. On four, bells down at 
sides. 

7. Counts 1-2, R. face, bells on hips. 
Counts 3-4, R. face, bells down. 
Counts 1-2, R. face, bells on hips. 
Counts 3-4, R. face, bells down. 

8. Counts 1-2, charge R. foot and strike bells over- 



head. 



head. 



Counts 3-4, position, strike bells back. 

Counts 1-2, charge L. foot and strike bells over- 



Counts 3-4, position, strike bells back. 
9. Repeat, eight counts. 
10. Counts 1-2, strike front. 
Counts 3-4, strike back. 
Counts 1-2, strike front. 
Counts 3-4, 'strike back. 



REAL SCOUT LIFE 19 

11. Counts 1-2, L. arm out front. 
Counts 3-4, R. bell on shoulder. 

12. Anvil Strike, sixteen times, (eight measures.) 

13. Rataplan, eight counts. 

14. Counts 1-2, bells to chest. 
Counts 3-4, bells straight side. 
Counts 1-2, bells front. 
Counts 3-4, bells overhead. 
Counts 1-2, bells front. 
Counts 3-4, bells side. 

Counts 1, strike back. 
Counts 2-3-4, rest. 

15. (Very slow.) 

Counts 1-2, strike front below. 
Counts 3-4, charge R. foot oblique and strike 
bells overhead. 

Counts 1-2, sink to R. knee. 
Counts 3-4, -strike overhead. (Hold position.) 
Curtain. 



SCOUT FLAGS OP ALL NATIONS DRILL. 



( To be given with hats on and blanket packs on shoulders. ) 
(MUSIC — Snatches from national airs should be 
played as each nation enters, and a medley of national airs 
makes a good march.) 

9. Holland. 

10. Russia. 

11. Austria. 

12. Italy. 

13. Japan. 

14. China. 

15. England. 

16. United States. 

(With a Beisy Ross Flag.) 

(Other nations may be added. Silk flags at least a yard 
wide should be used. They may be used later as decorations 
for the barracks or may be presented to some school. ) 



1. 


Scotland. 


2. 


Ireland. 


Q 


France. 


4. 


Spain. 


5. 


Germany. 


6. 


Denmark. 


7. 


Norway. 


8. 


Sweden. 



20 REAL SCOUT LIFE 

1. Eoys should march in order of size, one at a 
time from center of back to center of front, flags car- 
ried "shoulder arms." 

2. Halt center front, bring flag around holding it 
with both hand's so that it is plainly seen by all, then 
the boy should announce in a clear voice the name of 
country whose flag he carries. 

3. Flag returned to "shoulder arms" and first boy 
marches R. to corner, second L. to opposite corner, etc , 
each faces diagonally front and brings flag to "order 
arms." After each boy has taken his place all should 
be standing to form a very wide inverted "V." 

England should come next to the last and be the 
partner of the U. S. 

4. The boy representing the United States should 
carry a "Betsy Ross" flag and when he comes to the 
front the music ceases. and he gives a short account of 
the flag. He then takes his place opposite England in 
the point of the V. 

5. All flags wave, eight counts. 

6. All face point of V except England and United 
States. 

7. Forward march to center of front. 

8. R. and L. single file around sides to center of 
back. 

9. Forward march in lines about two feet apart to 
front, mark time. 

10. Face opposite directions. 

11. Flags are brought to "carry arms," using left 
hand to steady the flag. Hold four counts, back to 
"shoulder arms." 

12. Flags to "order arms," hold four counts, back 
to "shoulder arms." 

13. Charge L. knee, rest flag in the L. hand about 
knee-high, sink to R. knee and lay flag on floor. Hold 
four counts, recover leaving flags on floor. 

14. Front face, scout salute. 

15. Center face, scout salute. 

16. About face. 



REAL SCOUT LIFE 21 

17. Charge L. knee, sink on R. knee, hold four 
counts, recover with flags to "shoulder arms." 

18. Forward march, R. and L. single file around to 
center back. 

19. Forward by twos. 

20. R. and L. by twos to center back. 

21. Forward by fours. 

22. R. and L. by twos to center of back. 
2 3. Forward by twos. 

24. R. by single file and form circle. 

25. Once around, even numbers form smaller circle 
inside the larger. 

2 6. Once around, inside circle reverse and twice 
around. 

27. Inside circle about face, fall into place, forward 
by partners. 

28. From center back forward by twos to front, R. 
and L. twos to center back. 

29. Forward by fours about two-thirds down stage. 

30. First four sit on floor, second four kneel close 
back of these, third four stand close to second, fourth 
divide, two kneel with second row, two stana with third 
row. Flags arranged to show well. (Music chores of 
"The Star Spangled Banner." Red lights.) Drop an 
American flag as large as possible down to make the 
background. Boys remove hats and hold them on left 
shoulder. 



THE BETSY ROSS FLAG 



The history of our national flag is rather a long stoiy. 
Many emblems were used at different times by the col- 
onists. I wish to tell you of the two most important 
which lead directly to the adoption of our present well- 
beloved "Stars and Stripes." The first is the flag 
which was displayed at Washington's camp in January, 
177 6, and which had probably been used on the battle- 
ships the preceding fall. This flag had the English 
crosses in the king's colors and the thirteen stripes 
symbolizing the thirteen colonies, and expressed the 



22 REAL SCOUT LIFE 

general situation at that precise time. The colonies re- 
garded themselves as Englishmen living in America and 
they were simply righting for the same freedom that 
ether Englishmen enjoyed. When the complete separa- 
tion came, and July Fourth, 1776, became the birthday 
of a new nation, a different national emblem was need- 
ed. It was not until June 14, 1777, however, that Con- 
gress resolved, "That the flag of the United States be 
thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union 
be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a 
new constellation/' 

Thus we see that the change from the colonists' flag 
to that of the United States of America was very na- 
tural and direct. There was no longer a union of king- 
doms, but a Union of Thirteen States. The thirteen 
stars representing these states were placed in a circle 
on a blue field. This is often called the "Betsy Ross" 
flag, because it is said that Washington engaged Betsy 
Ross to make the first flag of this design. As the new 
states entered the Union additional stars and bars were 
added until in April, 1818, Congress passed 

"AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE FLAG OF THE 
UNITED STATES." 

Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That from and after 
the fourth day of July next, the flag of the United 
States be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and 
white; that the Union have twenty stars white in a blue 
field. 

Section 2. And be it further enacted, That on the ad- 
mission of every new State into the Union, one star be 
added to the union of the flag; and that such addition 
shall take effect on the fourth of July next succeeding- 
such admission. Approved, April 4, 1818." 

No changes have been made in our flag from that day 
to this except the adding of stars as the territories have 
become states. How many stars are there in the blue 
field of our flag today? 



MAY 8 1912 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



[0 020 237 165 6 



THE ONLY BOY SCOUT PLAY 

ADDRESS MISS SUSAN B. DAVIS, 
DEPARTMENT OF READING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING, 
WESTERN ILLINOIS STATE NORMAL SCHOOI . 

MACOMB, ILLINOIS. 




THE WESTERN COURIER PRESS 



